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When I first arrived at college I didn’t really know what to expect and was completely unprepared. I didn’t bring enough clothes or dishes and since I was trying to save money I didn’t think decorations were important so I didn’t bring any. As the first two weeks went by and I went from school to practice to my very white dull bedroom, I found myself becoming very depressed.

I talked with my parents and friend but could not figure about what was triggering my depression. Another week went by and it just kept getting worse. I had very little energy and just wanted to stay in bed all day. My parents then came to visit because they were becoming worried and after two minutes of being in my dorm my mom stated: “no wonder you are so depressed look at your room”. I was very confused by the comment and when I asked my mom to explain she said, “Your room can make a big difference in your attitude. If you have nothing to look at to cheer you up and all you see is white it is a lot easier to become depressed. Having a fun cute room will make your attitude change, just watch.”

So that afternoon we went to the store and bought decorations for my room. We bought mirrors and rugs and pictures and lamps and when it all came together the difference was amazing. I still didn’t fully believe this was gonna help but I did love how my new room looked. So after a week past, I called my mom and thanked her. It truly did help. I found my depression had disappeared and I was happy and cheerful. I learned that people don’t live in blank houses for a reason and that having proper decorations and area rugs can truly make a difference in one’s happiness.

“According the to report released today, Austin-area home sales reached a historic high for the month, while housing inventory dropped to an all-time low.” That was the opening sentence to the end of year (December) Austin housing market report released by the Austin Board of Realtors but in all honesty you could have plugged in just about any month over the past year and the story would have read the same.

The Austin Real Estate Market set records across the board in 2013, a year that echoed the significance of a bustling local economy. More than 27,000 single-family homes and 3000+ condominium units sold in 2013, setting all-time highs in both categories. The 30,460 total single-family residences sold in 2013 marked a 19.5% increase over the prior year. Home prices rose by eight percent and condo prices by nine. At the end of the year, the median price for a home in the Austin metro area was $223,890, considerably higher than years prior and a glaring indication of widespread housing demand.

The year began with an insufficient supply of local housing to support an increasing buyer pool that had been waiting on the sidelines (albeit impatiently) for the past 3-4 years for the national economy to signal a significant change of direction. The year ended with similar challenges as December capped off a monumental year with just 2.1 months of available housing inventory. In other words, a market that would be completely wiped out in two months should new listing activity stall completely. Sarah Williams, a Realtor for Liberty Hill Real Estate said the market was doing so well that she couldn’t believe it.A seller’s market to say the least, but an extremely challenging market for buyers and sellers alike who are faced with a quick purchase timelines after having their previous home sell so quickly.

The average home spent just shy of 50 days on the market ahead of sale in 2013, 31% less time than the year prior. Further, median days on market for local housing fell to 22 days for the year and less than two weeks for a four-month span from April to July.

Concerns of looming “shadow inventory” of foreclosure & distressed properties waiting to be dumped on the market proved largely unfounded – in Texas especially. Foreclosure activity dipped to less than 1.5% of households in the state of Texas as escalating property values pulled many an underwater homeowner back on dry land. Many experts are now predicting that such an impending doom is no longer a cause for concern for two reasons. First off, the controlling institutions (banks) have nothing to gain by watering down the market with distressed inventory and second, rising property values have offset the typical burden of carrying such properties for a longer term.

Austin Condo Market – The Austin condo market enjoyed massive gains in 2013 as sales showed a 24% increase over the previous year. Median and average sale price rose 8/10% for the year and price per square foot jumped 13%. Condos spent only 50 days on market, thirty percent less time than 2012.

Austin Rental Market – A market with very little room for upward mobility showed modest gains in 2013. The number of res. leases rose 3% for the year. Average lease price increased 4% and median price 6%. At the end of the year, the rental market in Austin was 95.7 occupied.

Central Texas Rural Market – Though small in relative size, the farm and ranch market showed the largest gains of any market segment in 2013. Sales of farm and ranch properties rose 34% for the year. Average price followed suit at +11% and median price at +4%. Properties spent 5% less time on market (196 days).

Central Texas Land Market – Austin has a huge shortage in desirable lots in buildable condition. But that didn’t slow sales in 2013. Volume increased 21% and prices climbed 7 percent. An average lot sat on the market for 225 days before sale over the past year. Active lot listings are down 17 percent at year’s end.

If you are tired of your contemporary rug and feel the need to spice up your space with some amazing textures, fabric, and color, then southwestern rugs are the rugs for you. The southwestern rug will take your interior home decor to a whole new level. These rugs help you create that unique western, Native American or rustic feel in your space. Many designers opt to buy southwestern rugs online due to the growing demand in many homes. The southwestern rugs are used on floors in many homes, or even used in decorating log cabins and give a western or rustic theme. South western area rugs also give your home an authentic southwestern country feel and look.
Before selecting a southwestern rug, you need to set the tone of your space to match that of the rug since they are available in different colors like blue, yellow, red, orange, green and much more. Therefore, you should use various designs of the rug on different tones in your space. For instance, the rug should try to go hand in hand with some pottery in your area that will give a strong base to the Southwestern decor theme, and you can also try to match it with some of your eye-catching paintings that you possess in your space. We personally really prefer rugs from American Dakota.

Choosing a western rug may vary depending on the space. You may choose one depending on your choice and preference or even based on your interior design. The rugs’ material can also be a determining factor for choosing the Southwestern rug. These rugs are made up of pure wool which is remarkably tender and soft. So if you are a wool fan, then the southwestern rug would be ideal for you. However, interior decorators love hand woven rugs for they are rich in colors and textures. Whatever your decorating style and interior decor needs, you will enjoy the exceptional richness of warmth and color brought when using the southwestern rugs.

The Web is full of personal methods and suggestions that should be handled by a professional instead of an amateur. HVAC repair is just one such field. You could find numerous videos and blogs on the web that gives tips on how to deal with HVAC problems. But stuff like this are the best hand led by experts in the marketplace. There are lots of features of calling an experienced to mend your HVAC system. Allow me to share important reasons why you should depend upon an experienced HVAC repair service like Fort Wayne HVAC in Indiana.

The time associated with repairing an HVAC product is a lot of for your average home improver. Although there are particular expenses related to using DIY methods, time involved is enormous. For most jobs trying to save some dollars during this process ends up costing you more in the end. On the flip side, a seasoned professional are capable of doing a far faster job because they are well-familiar with diagnosing and fixing the issue quickly. A home-owner might have the knowledge to solve easy issues with their HVAC systems. Here is where the assistance of an experienced HVAC technician comes in useful. They could diagnose the problem faster and offer the best solution. Since an experienced HVAC contractor spent some time working on countless machines, they may be quick to identify an issue and correct it. You can anticipate reliable results if you work with a professional as opposed to attempting to carry out the repairs using DIY methods.

Servicing an HVAC system includes handling the electrical parts, sharp metal pieces, and fan blades. You ought to be cautious when attempting DIY techniques to repair these machines. Actually, except if you are very well-trained and skilled in this work, you must not try such activities. You could possibly electrocute yourself or wind up creating a fire in your house at the same time. Alternatively, servicing the ducts from the system requires precise work where you must use professional grade suction equipment and air conditioning strategies. Anybody who thinks about his safety should consult a specialist for the task. This is when an experienced HVAC repair company is your best solution.

With a myriad of HVAC contractors operating in the community, choosing a reliable team is just not always easy. You must consider a lot of things before accomplishing this. The reputation and connection with the contractor are important. They ought to hold the necessary license, insurance coverages, and bonding to conduct their business in your community. Never decide to do business with a contractor without having the necessary documentation. You could possibly regret your final decision at a later time since there are numerous fly-by-night contractors functioning on the market. Check online review sites to find out how other customers are rating the help provided by the possible candidate. It may help you pick the right HVAC contractor for the position.

I recently was asked to evaluate a few locksmiths in Renton and that got me thinking about how to value a locksmith business. There are a lot of choices to be made when assessing the value of a business, but the objective is clear: find an accurate estimate that will maximize return on your investment. The type of business you’re looking at, though, can have a large effect on what methods you might use to acquire said estimate.

A frequent starting place is the valuation of the business’s assets. There are typically two types of locksmith businesses: mobile and brick-and-mortar. The mobile business will have fewer assets compared to the brick-and-mortar locksmith; however, in this case, assets can be a misleading figure. A business of sufficient scale will have a large number of assets; however, this does not guarantee that the business will make you money without selling off assets.

One can also determine the value based on valuations of similar locksmith businesses – however, it can be difficult to determine the “similarity” of two seemingly like businesses.

In the case of a locksmith, which is typically a small business, you’ll likely find that the most assured method of evaluation is to first examine the company’s books, determine the annual profits (if you don’t know how to do this, you should learn before attempting to evaluate), and multiply by a standard coefficient. A common technique is to divide the profits by the current relatively solid interest rate of Treasury bills. This technique tends to provide reliable and accurate estimates and is widely used.

It’s important to remember, though, that businesses have no inherent value. Businesses are worth what they’re worth to you and the business owner– if you’ve had a childhood dream of owning a locksmith company, you’ll likely be willing to pay more than any “market value”; conversely, if the business owner had always dreamed of owning his own locksmith company, and especially if he’s put years of work into it, he may not accept an otherwise fair evaluation.

Businesses undertake a credit analysis to determine their ability to meet their financial obligations. It involves analyzing audited bank statements for a company. The primary goal of embarking on this process is to assess the risks that can get borne in the case of a default. It also entails analyzing the value of the security that the company owns. It gives lenders a cushion for any unexpected losses that may result from failure to honor repayments.

It can get achieved by dividing the worth of assets by the value of liabilities. One should check out for a ratio of two or above. This ratio implies that the company is servicing its debts efficiently without any defaults. A lower ratio is a danger sign to the survival of the enterprise. It means that the firm is currently handling higher debts than it can manage.

· Check the bank statements

Lenders usually check the financial statements before issuing new loans. They look for the net earnings which should surpass the expected monthly payments. The financials which are commonly analyzed include the balance sheet and the profit and loss statement.

· Consider the length of servicing a loan facility

Existing loans that have a longer repayment period tend to be less attractive to new lenders. It is because of the risk factors involved due to the inability to determine the strength of the business in the future. Consequently, banks will opt to charge greater interest rates to cushion themselves from risks of non-repayment. Financial institutions will favor companies that have a clean record of monthly installments. You want to be sure to recognize how long do hard inquiries stay on your credit during this point.

How the credit profile affects the overall value of the company

Companies with a higher credit rating are better placed when it comes to accessing loans from lenders. It can help them meet their day to day activities since they are liquid. Creditors can be paid on time ensuring a smooth flow of business functions. Acquiring funds can also enable them to expand into other areas of operations hence reaching more customers. It gives them an edge to compete with rivals in the market. Partnering with other businesses becomes easier since new stakeholders feel at ease when it comes to availing of funds.

Credit analysis is a tasking but unavoidable process in any line of business. It aims mostly at availing crucial information needed by financial institutions that may consider lending to any enterprise. Getting accurate data is essential since it helps lenders avoid lending to risky businesses.

A lot of people want to know how to appraise a rug company. A rug and textile company is like any other firm when it comes to buying a business. So you need to understand some important things before diving into the deep water of business acquisitions. So read on just to find out even more about this.

Assess the Assets
You need to assess the business`s assets. Take a look at the balance sheet so you can get an estimate of the value of the enterprise. You need to take a close look at the firm`s books. If you see that these books are not neat, you should walk away. The owner of the business should show you how the business is making money. He or she must have good books so you can know what`s going on. You can also value the business based on the cash flow, which means the money that the enterprise generates in revenue. It’s also important to assess the cost of the materials and, whether or not, they are made in the USA.

Ask the Stockbroker
You can even ask your stockbroker so you can get the sales multiplier for a particular industry. This professional can help you out right away, as he or she might have done tons of valuation in many industries. Remember that you need to do your due diligence and research. You should also write a letter of intent to your seller. This document should have the terms of the purchase, the price, and the conditions to buy the business. You should also write a confidential agreement. Now, you just have to review the business`s financial statements.

Tax Returns
Take a close look at the enterprise`s tax returns. You need to review the document from the last 3 to 5 years. Look over also employee contracts, sales reports, and customer lists. Call in a lawyer to help you out dealing with the process. He or she will review any legal document. Hire an accountant to look over any financial record. You should also assemble a team of professionals in various areas of the business landscape such as operations, sales, marketing, finance, investment banking, accounting, law, valuation, and others. Make sure there is constant communication inside the team too.
As you can see, purchasing a rug firm is not hard. Remember that you can use a wide array of valuation methods ranging from asset valuation to cash flow valuation. You should keep these types of valuations constantly in mind if you want to purchase a business these days. So what are you waiting for? Purchase a rug company right now and gain more market share right away.

Experience – ASAs must demonstrate five years of full-time equivalent experience in business valuation to get their professional designation. The American Society of Appraisers also awards the professional designation AM (Accredited Member) requiring demonstration of two years of full-time equivalent experience. ASAs have experience in appraising a wide variety of companies – public and closely held, large and small – and have experience in appraising a wide variety of business intangible assets.

Education – ASA has an extensive, long-established educational program including a core series of courses, various advanced courses and seminars, an annual cross-discipline international conference, and an annual advanced business valuation conference. To get their designations, candidates for an ASA or AM designation must complete the core series of four three-day courses in business valuation and successfully finish a half-day test following each course. (Alternatively, a candidate for a designation may challenge and pass the final eight-hour comprehensive examination.) To retain their designations, ASAs must demonstrate participation in continuing education.

Standards – In their business valuation work, ASAs and AMs are required to adhere to clearly defined standards. The compliance of ASAs and AMs with these standards assures those who rely on their appraisals that there are standards for the techniques utilized and that the techniques are accepted in the professional community. The American Society of Appraisers, through its Business Valuation Committee has developed a set of Business Valuation Standards (click here to see these standards). These standards are to be used in conjunction with the Uniform Standards of Appraisal Practice (USPAP) developed and published by The Appraisal Foundation, which was authorized by Congress as the source of appraisal standards and appraiser qualifications. (The USPAP Standards can be purchased from the Appraisal Foundation at: www.appraisalfoundation.org/ )

Tested – To get their designations, candidates for an ASA or an AM must pass (with a score of 75%) four half-day tests following the first three core level courses (or they must pass an 8-hour challenge examination). In addition, they must pass a 1-hour ethics examination.

Review – An ASA’s work product has undergone strict professional review. To get the ASA or the AM designation, a business appraiser must submit two appraisal reports that meet the examining committee’s approval.

Ethics – One of ASA’s primary objectives is to ensure ethical practices and procedures on the part of its members. The society is diligent in its efforts to strengthen and uphold the Principles of Appraisal Practice and Code of Ethics (the code of conduct to which all members must subscribe) in order to protect the client.

Professional Journal – The Business Valuation Committee of ASA has published a quarterly technical journal, Business Valuation Review, since 1982. This professional journal gives ASA members access to innovative discussions of business valuation theory and practice.

Multi-discipline Appraisal Organization – The multi-discipline nature of ASA strengthens business valuation members of ASA. They have the opportunity to share information with and learn from appraisers in other appraisal disciplines, such as real property and machinery and equipment.

THE VALUATION EXPERTISE YOU NEED

The meticulous ASA accreditation process ensures that ASA-accredited appraisers are accurate, impartial, and credible. They are educated and experienced in their fields and are respected members of their communities. ASAs include leaders in the business valuation field and the authors of many of the most authoritative business valuation texts. Among the ASAs who have authored leading texts, are the following:

Shannon P. Pratt, FASA, is the author of many texts in this field, including the pioneering Valuing a Business and The Lawyer’s Business Valuation Handbook recently published by the American Bar Association.

Gordon V. Smith, ASA, and Russell L. Parr, ASA, are authors of a number of books, including the recently updated Valuation of Intellectual Property and Intangible Assets.

Z. Christopher Mercer, ASA, is also a widely-published author and his books include Quantifying Marketability Discounts and Valuing Financial Institutions.

Robert F. Reilly, ASA, and Robert P. Schweihs, ASA, who along with Shannon Pratt have authored editions of Valuing a Business and Valuing Small Businesses & Professional Practices and who together authored The Handbook of Advanced Business Valuation and Valuing Intangible Assets.

Jay E. Fishman, ASA, along with Shannon Prat are the authors of Guide To Business Valuations, volumes 1,2 and 3.

In short, ASA-accredited appraisers have the valuation expertise you need.